Food Pyramid Be Gone!

Recently Michele Obama was in the headlines on the Nutritional front (yet again) stating that the USDA is no longer using the food pyramid to help guide people with their food portions and teach people how to balance their food groups. We were introduced to the "myPlate" which is broken down into sections with fruits, grains, vegetables, protein and dairy. It is simply suggested that we increase our consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase our grains to whole grains and switch to fat free or low fat (1%) milk.

We are also suggested to decrease our sodium intake with such things as soups, breads and packaged foods and increase our water consumption instead of drinking sugary drinks. Then we are to enjoy our food but eat less and avoid over-sized portions. I ask you if it was this easy wouldn't everyone be eating like this already? Wouldn't we have people not struggling with obesity related conditions and Diabetes?

While I applaud Michele Obama for trying to get people to make healthier food choices I don't think this is a miraculous answer to the people and children struggling with being overweight. As a Certified Nutritionist I have been using this "plate" for sometime now - it's nothing new. Yes, it is a very simple tool to teach people how to eat better. So simple in fact that we specifically use it for pre-school age children and not adults. Most of the adults in my nutritional classes simply stare at it and laugh as if to say, "don't you think I know how much to eat" or better yet "don't you think I know I'm filling my plate up with all of the wrong things"?

Most people that hire me are over the quick fixes of weight loss and realize by that point after the upteenth failed diet, that diets don't work - proper nutrition does. People need a buddy, a friend to hold them accountable for their every day, every meal actions. Good or bad, people need someone to call up and say, look I messed up tell me what to do. If you don't have the money to hire a Certified Nutritionist ask a friend or family member to do this for you. With me, it was my mother who helped me before I myself became a Nutritionist.

So the next time you're out with a group of freinds or at a romantic dinner with your spouse and your "plate" is not available - call someone! I often take calls from my clients in similar situations when they are staring at a menu and quite frankly don't know what to do. Have your support network on speed dial. Use those calorie counting apps on the iphone. There are no excuses when it comes to losing weight. I know it's hard but if you reach out to someone and ask them to hold you accountable - they will and you'll feel so good about yourself when you've accomplished your goals with their help!